Need feedback on leather case vs silicone please

[gdourado]

Hello, how are you?
Trying to decide on what type of case for my new 12 pro max.
I was looking at some videos on YouTube, and it seems to me that the leather cases don’t have microfiber lining on the frame. Only the back of the case. While the silicone case seems to have microfiber on both the back, as well as the frame.

Is this accurate?
If this is the case, since the frame is the more susceptible part of the phone to have small dents causes by debris that get stuck between the case and the phone, does the silicone case offer better protection?

Cheers.

 

[iFone88]

Hello, how are you?
Trying to decide on what type of case for my new 12 pro max.
I was looking at some videos on YouTube, and it seems to me that the leather cases don’t have microfiber lining on the frame. Only the back of the case. While the silicone case seems to have microfiber on both the back, as well as the frame.

Is this accurate?
If this is the case, since the frame is the more susceptible part of the phone to have small dents causes by debris that get stuck between the case and the phone, does the silicone case offer better protection?

Cheers.

You are correct in saying that there is no microfibre lining on the edges of the leather case but the leather soft anyway so should provide adequate protection IMO

 

[PeteS1963]

I know what you mean. In my experience microfibre on the sides does do an excellent job of preventing tiny grit particles etc getting between the side of the phone and case. It doesn’t matter if the sides of the case are soft - the tiny fibres help prevent any small particles getting inside the case. Even if they do it can also help prevent them from moving about which is what can cause pitting and small scratches.

Mind, the sides of my leather case are tight compared to many other cards so that should help.

Maybe someone with a new silicon case for the 12 can confirm if it does have microfibre along the sides.

 

[Dave.Inwood1988]

I’ve never had an official apple case always gone for 3rd party. Chose the Kumquat Silicone case and to be honest I’m amazed at the feel and the quality! Would defo choose more of them!

 

[gdourado]

I know what you mean. In my experience microfibre on the sides does do an excellent job of preventing tiny grit particles etc getting between the side of the phone and case. It doesn’t matter if the sides of the case are soft - the tiny fibres help prevent any small particles getting inside the case. Even if they do it can also help prevent them from moving about which is what can cause pitting and small scratches.

Mind, the sides of my leather case are tight compared to many other cards so that should help.

Maybe someone with a new silicon case for the 12 can confirm if it does have microfibre along the sides.

Not just preventing them to get there, but actually I believe it helps to prevent scratches.
On both my XS Max and my 11 pro max I had silicone cases.
Whenever I took the cases off to clean, there where always tiny specs of debris inside the case.
But both phones were mint when I sold them.

But this year I was thinking about going leather case instead.
I have the pacific blue pro max and I think the black leather case would look great.
But I really fear the absence of micro fiber lining on the sides.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Silicone is the most comfortable, although it can wear faster than the leather.

 

[James Godfrey]

I have both, firstly I ordered the silicone case in black and it does have micro fibre on the edges, what comes into contact with the metal frame of the phone.

Overall it’s a nice case with a slight raised edge where the camera is and around the frame of the screen, it’s still a little slippy in the hand, but not bad, main draw back is that it marks like crazy and picks up a lot of dust and dirt, and after a week of use its starting to look a bit rough already.

Next I ordered the leather case also in black, there is no micro fibre on the edges of this case but it is tighter on the phone.

Again it’s a nice case, feels better in the hand IMO, however, as with all leather products it will likely come with imperfections, mine has some streaks running down the back which you can see in certain lighting and two little dots or punctures in the leather near the charging port on the back (this is quite common with leather products and is usually indicative of insect bites), the buttons are also different on this case, I think they are aluminium.

In regards to fears about the metal band scratching, firstly if you have the gold, graphite or blue versions, I can assure you it will likely not scratch, my partner had the iPhone XS in gold and only used cheap third party silicone cases and the antenna band was flawless after two years.

However if you have the silver model, I think it’s inevitable it will scratch the metal band regardless of what you do unless you use a skin, however on my previous XS in silver I just used Cape Cod Stainless Steel Polish on the band and it pretty much looked flawless after two year apart from one little nick in the metal band.

I hope this helps!

 

[gdourado]

I have both, firstly I ordered the silicone case in black and it does have micro fibre on the edges, what comes into contact with the metal frame of the phone.

Overall it’s a nice case with a slight raised edge where the camera is and around the frame of the screen, it’s still a little slippy in the hand, but not bad, main draw back is that it marks like crazy and picks up a lot of dust and dirt, and after a week of use its starting to look a bit rough already.

Next I ordered the leather case also in black, there is no micro fibre on the edges of this case but it is tighter on the phone.

Again it’s a nice case, feels better in the hand IMO, however, as with all leather products it will likely come with imperfections, mine has some streaks running down the back which you can see in certain lighting and two little dots or punctures in the leather near the charging port on the back (this is quite common with leather products and is usually indicative of insect bites), the buttons are also different on this case, I think they are aluminium.

In regards to fears about the metal band scratching, firstly if you have the gold, graphite or blue versions, I can assure you it will likely not scratch, my partner had the iPhone XS in gold and only used cheap third party silicone cases and the antenna band was flawless after two years.

However if you have the silver model, I think it’s inevitable it will scratch the metal band regardless of what you do unless you use a skin, however on my previous XS in silver I just used Cape Cod Stainless Steel Polish on the band and it pretty much looked flawless after two year apart from one little nick in the metal band.

I hope this helps!

In fact i do have the Pacific blue iPhone.
I keep going back and forth between both cases as both seem to have their advantages but also cons.

From what I see, the micro fiber interior of the silicone case is a plus.
But it is true that silicone cases seem to wear out.
My previous ones started to get kid of matte on some areas.
As if the natural grease and sweat from the hands absorbs to the silicone and it starts getting some strange shines and mattes.
If that makes since.

But at the end of the day, the purpose of a case is to protect the phone, and my fear is that the leather one will not do as great of a job as the silicone one.

 

[James Godfrey]

In fact i do have the Pacific blue iPhone.
I keep going back and forth between both cases as both seem to have their advantages but also cons.

From what I see, the micro fiber interior of the silicone case is a plus.
But it is true that silicone cases seem to wear out.
My previous ones started to get kid of matte on some areas.
As if the natural grease and sweat from the hands absorbs to the silicone and it starts getting some strange shines and mattes.
If that makes since.

But at the end of the day, the purpose of a case is to protect the phone, and my fear is that the leather one will not do as great of a job as the silicone one.

I think they both will protect it well, but neither will completely prevent scratches, one is better as it has microfibre around the edge but the other is better as it is tighter allowing less debris to get into that area.

So it’s swings and roundabouts with both types of case, if you are really worried about it perhaps look at a see through skin of some kind to apply to the metal band then put the case on, at least that way it will be protected regardless.

 

[Fred Zed]

Great question OP.
From someone that removes device daily and dusts their cases , will the hard plastic inner frame of the leather case mar or damage the iphone stainless steel band ? My thoughts are that it will. I just bought one and yet to put it on.
I guess I can to 💯 anal and put a clear film protector around the frame of the iphone first lol. I'm thinking those 3M type clear car door edge films might fit.

 

[Aceroller]

I dropped my 12 mini which was in the Apple leather case onto concrete from about 3 feet. Two of the corners of the phone popped out of the leather case and although the glass did not crack, I did end up with 2 small dents on the aluminum sides. Something to consider with the Apple 12 cases.