Finding the right case for your smartphone is as difficult as choosing which phone to buy in the first place, and the perceived wisdom is that you often pay for what you get. There are many, many iPhone cases available and the styles range from simple slip cases to silicone covers to full leather wallet style cases which do more than just protect your phone. This case from Piel Frama protects your iPhone and also enables you to carry a couple of credit cards and some money at the same time. It is designed in the traditional style that almost all PDA cases were a couple of years ago, but that takes away none of the practicality and quality. When you consider how much you probably use your iPhone, it makes sense to invest in adequate protection which extends the style and life of it.
First impressions
As always with Piel Frama you are presented with a first impression of completeness, attention to detail and quality throughout every part of the contents. In the box there is a belt clip, a tool to undo the belt clip holder, three plastic inserts for the belt clip hole should you wish to not carry it on your belt, instruction booklet and a few paper inserts detailing other products available from Piel Frama and the construction process. I have a bit of a soft spot for Piel Frama because I still use one of its mouse mats after about 4 years and it is still in perfect condition despite continued daily use.
The case is the most important aspect here though and everything about it screams good quality. From the smell of the leather to the perfect stitching through the care that has been taken to make the iPhone usable when in situ, it has a consistency about it which is not often matched elsewhere. The embedded writing inside the case rather sums up the initial user experience- “The product you have just acquired has been hand-made by Piel Frama leather craftsmen, each piece is unique.”
In use
Piel Frama includes a neat little solution to the age old problem of carrying credit cards together by way of a small leather insert which has a soft material in the centre flanked by two plastic panels. This enables you to carry credit cards without fear of scratching or damaging them, and in practice it works well. The fact that it suits the overall case look is an advantage.
There are holes for the camera, headphone jack, volume control, sync/charge port and home button and these are all perfectly cut and placed precisely. The elastic inserts for the credit cards ensure that the cards are separated and that they are easy to insert and remove, and the magnetic closure still worked well for me even after I have stuffed the case to the brim.
Around the edges things get a little stiffer and this affords more protection should you drop the phone onto a hard surface. I was so certain that it would work that I dropped my iPhone onto a concrete patio just to test it. It worked and the case suffered little damage as well. The closure stayed in place and this gives confidence for using it in the future.
The front cover flips all the way over which is useful when making calls and despite looking like it will not work for calls, it soon became second nature to keep my iPhone in the case all of the time. I am struggling to find a downside with this case, I really am.
Conclusion
You may baulk at the asking price of 70 Euros, but when you consider how much you use your iPhone and how much pleasure it gives you the cost is not substantial in comparison to the cost of the phone and the protection this accessory will afford it.
Sometimes in life you pay just a little more to have the best and a case like this is a good example of attention to detail and an end user experience which more than justifies the price. I have no hesitation in recommending this case and I may get one for my BlackBerry as well. The reassurance of having excellent protection every day and a little bit of luxury to keep my case in has made the whole experience one I will return to again and again.
Available from Piel Frama for 70 Euros.
All photos taken by Thomas McGill (age 9)
