Is the TwelveSouth's RelaxedLeather iPhone Case for You?

Shell-style leather cases for iPhone aren’t new, although the RelaxedLeather case is the first in this style for Twelve South. The case is available in two versions: with ($49.99) and without ($39.99) pockets for credit or ID cards.

There’s nothing flashy about these cases, which have been designed with minimalists in mind. As such, they’re very light with little bulk.

Made from vegetable-tanned aniline leather, the RelaxedLeather case looks incredibly natural, as one would expect. Like other fine leather products, I’d expect the case to wear well over time, especially with the slight coating on the top.

For this review, Twelve South provided me with a RelaxedLeather case with a pocket in warm toupe (light brown) and one without in dried herb, which looks like a combination of gray and green. The case also comes in Black, Cognac (brown), and Marsala (red).

I’ve been using the pocket version almost exclusively for the past month, while I’ve deliberately kept the non-pocket version in its box. Wear and tear are noticeable on the pocket version, as you can see below.

Do you notice the vertical wear lines and frayed stitching on the pocket case? They’re scrapes made by my (very short) fingernails when I took out my debit card a few times during the first few days of use.

When the case was new, the pockets offered an extremely tight fit, making it difficult to remove a card. After a few uses, they did get more comfortable, although the vertical wear lines and frayed stitching has remained.

Leather naturally ages over time, which is something I love about the material. Marks made from trying to take out a debit card aren’t natural in my book. Neither are stitching issues.

Were I to get a do-over with the RelaxedLeather case with pockets, I would be more careful when removing my cards, at least until the fit became more comfortable. Hopefully, the marks on my current case will fade over time.

On a far more positive note, the RelaxedLeather case provides excellent protection even from minor falls. The case is also easy to remove from the iPhone, which is perfect if you’re the type of person who likes to change your case on a regular basis.

Though the case covers both the volume and power buttons, they are all easily accessible. I was less impressed with the size of the hole on the case which exposes the phone’s ringer/silent switch. You may find the hole too small, depending on the size of your fingers.

Finally, I offer high praise for the case’s cutout for the iPhone camera. It’s just the right size, unlike the camera hole on some cases that are too big.

I was mostly impressed by the RelaxedLeather iPhone case. It offers just the right amount of style and protection that you should expect from a shell-style leather case. Between the two different versions of the case, I’d go with the one without the pockets. It’s the one that will most likely stand the test the time the best.

Were you to select the RelaxedLeather case with pockets, I’d suggest lifting your cards up and down a few times before regular use. This might help you avoid the vertical marks that I experienced.

You can purchase the RelaxedLeather iPhone case via the Twelve South website and at retailers such as Amazon. They’re available for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.