- Two leather options
- Horween patinas beautifully
- Excellent drop protection
- MagSafe-compatible
- Slightly expensive
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has been my daily driver since it launched in September — and I’ve loved every second with it. From the always-on screen and Dynamic Island to the top-notch camera system, it’s a tough phone to dislike. But I haven’t been using the iPhone 14 Pro Max on its own. Shortly after I wrapped up my review, I quickly threw it in a Nomad case. And I haven’t looked back.
Specifically, I’m talking about Nomad’s Modern Leather Case. Leather cases are often my go-to for any smartphone, and my iPhone 13 Pro from last year lived in Apple’s official leather case. But this year, I decided to go with a Nomad option, and it’s been a decision I couldn’t be happier with.
Nomad iPhone 14 leather case design and patina
Nomad has two flavors of its Modern Leather Case to choose from: Leather and Horween Leather. The former is a cheaper option Nomad created with the Danish leather tannery Ecoo. It’s real leather, but it uses computer-controlled tanning and has a more pristine finish. Horween Leather, on the other hand, is traditionally handmade and has a more natural appearance that’s not quite as perfect, but is much more natural-looking.
It’s the Horween Leather case you see on my iPhone 14 Pro Max in the Rustic Brown color. These photos were taken after daily use of the case for a little over a month, and as you can clearly see, the patina is in full force.
Although I forgot to snap a photo of the case as soon as I got it, Nomad’s above picture is an accurate representation of what the Horween leather case looks like out of the box. There are very subtle natural features throughout if you look closely, but for the most part, it’s a clean and well-presented piece of leather.
It’s really well done, but fast-forward to over a month of regular use, and the case becomes even more beautiful.
PreviousNextYou see visible signs of wear and tear everywhere you look on my case. The leather is noticeably darker, there are visible scuff marks all along the edges, and a myriad of scratches/indents across the entirety of the case.
The leather from Ecco doesn’t patina nearly as quickly and retains its out-of-the-box appearance longer. If you prefer that, it’s great that Nomad has that option available! But I want my leather case to wear its history on its sleeve, and the Horween finish most certainly achieves that.
Nomad iPhone 14 leather case durability and MagSafe
Beyond the good leather looks, I’ve also been really impressed with the durability of Nomad’s case. I’ve dropped my iPhone numerous times while inside the case — onto the carpet floors in my living room, the hardwood in my kitchen, and the asphalt of a parking lot.
This is thanks to the TPE bumper that wraps around Nomad’s leather case and offers up to 10 feet of drop protection. Initially, I was apprehensive about the TPE (aka rubber) frame. Coming from the all-leather Apple case last year, having a portion made out of TPE seemed like a step down. But in practice, I’ve been quite thankful for it — largely because it absorbs the impact of a fall much more gracefully. The leather on my Apple case last year started peeling in one corner after a particularly nasty fall. Even after some big drops with my iPhone 14, I don’t have any such issues with the Nomad case.
Also present on the Nomad’s Modern Leather Case is MagSafe support. MagSafe is included by default for both leather finishes, and it works exactly as you’d expect. I’ve had zero issues attaching Apple’s Leather Wallet with MagSafe or its MagSafe Charger. MagSafe accessories snap on confidently and stay there until you’re ready to pop them off.
