I typically do not have a case on my iPhone, preferring the natural feel of the smartphone itself. But I do worry a bit about buggering my very expensive tech-toy due to my desire to use it naked. I sometimes use a case when I’m feeling conservative but most feel so bulky and in the way. totallee’s thin leather iPhone case tries to bridge the gap between the two extremes. This case is about as minimalist as you can find, barely changing the look, feel, and weight of the sleek and slim device. 

Note: Click the images to see a larger view.

totallee is a startup company based out of South Pasadena, CA. Their primary mission is to make thin iPhone cases that provide decent protection without adding bulk. When totallee began in 2013, they wanted to develop a line of cases that are “thin, elegant and fairly priced”. According to their website, they’re a “group of hard working, creative individuals who care about the products we sell and about the people we sell them to.”

Truth be told, when I first opened the packaging and held the totallee thin leather case my initial impression was less than positive. It felt cheap and at best, mediocrely made.  But with time, it has definitely grown on me. I’ve had it on my iPhone 7+ for several weeks and have not gotten tired of it.

The case itself is made from polypropylene and is a mere 0.02″ thick, weighing in at 0.1 oz. The thin leather iPhone case features a genuine lambskin leather backing that is inset into the plastic.

The $29 thin leather iPhone case is perfectly fitted for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Here you can see it installed on my smartphone…it is a very tight fit with zero gaps whatsoever. totallee’s goal is to: keep your iPhone 7 Plus looking like an iPhone.

The lambskin leather on the back of the case adds texture and grip to your slippery device. I was surprised to find out the “leather case” only had leather on the back vs the whole case. But overall the design works very well.

This case snaps-on the smartphone and covers/protects 99% of the iPhone’s sides and back. Instead of push-throughs, the totallee case has well fitted cutouts that allow access to the iPhone’s mute, volume, and power buttons. The buttons themselves are slightly recessed but easily pressed when desired.

The totallee case has a cutout for the lighting connector and speaker holes on its base.

The case covers the entire top of the iPhone.

totallee backs their $29 thin leather iPhone case with a 2-year hassle-free warranty. It is available for the iPhone 6/6+/7/7+ in black and as the name implies costs 29 bones.

The totallee $29 thin leather iPhone 7 case is great minimalistic protection for your sleek and slim smartphone. This case adds little bulk or weight to your iPhone while providing decent protection from bumps, nicks, or scrapes. Though it wouldn’t add much drop or impact protection. An added bonus is that the totallee case enables me to sandwich a metal plate between it and my iPhone to use the magnetic mounts in my vehicles. Bottom line: the totallee thin leather iPhone case is well made/engineered from solid materials, designed to keep your iPhone looking and feeling as Apple intended while protecting it from the outside world.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by totallee. Please visit their site for more info and to order. You can also see other totallee cases on Amazon.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: iPhone Case

totallee $29 thin leather iPhone 7+ case review originally appeared on on July 7, 2017 at 6:24 am.

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Take a look at your phone. I mean, really look at it. Chances are if you’ve purchased or acquired a new phone in the last few years, it’s shiny and sleek and svelte. Or at least it was until you put that bulky case on it. Do we really need to wrap our sexy communication devices in a layer of aluminum and hard rubber just to keep it safe? Case maker Pitaka is out to challenge that notion with their line of thin, aramid cases.

Ara-what?

Aramid, short for aromatic polyamide, is a synthetic fiber that can be formed into rigid polymer chains, similar to carbon fiber. However, aramid is non-conductive, making it perfect for phone cases, as it does not interfere with reception. Its high strength and resistance to abrasion, solvents, and heat allow for the creation of an extremely thin case that is 5 times stronger than steel of the same weight.

Thin. Light. And strong.

Pitaka basically created a phone case for people who hate phone cases.

The case itself is only 0.65mm thick, yet it’s extremely rigid. It has very minimal flex and installs easily. The fit is dead-on and isn’t a hassle to remove like some other thin cases I’ve tried. Others tended to be too thin, and warped after a short time, bowing out at certain points and feeling like they just weren’t a good fit. But this case, even after several weeks in my pocket, is still a perfect fit. It’s like a second skin.

What’s in the box?

Hey, a free screen cover! Nice little bonus if you’re into that sort of thing.

The Pitaka case comes with the case itself and also a bonus tempered glass screen protector, which is a nice bonus until you realize that it’s almost certainly necessary for full front-to-back protection. This is because the case itself does not extend past the front of the screen. It’s not even flush with it. Personally, I like that about the case, as having that extra “lip” around the sides of the screen makes it difficult to properly input a swipe from the edge of the screen.

I went ahead and installed the glass screen protector, anyway, just to get the whole experience as the manufacturer intended. It was a fairly easy process and was easily removable for when I had to reposition it to work out all the bubbles. But after a couple of days, I couldn’t get used to it. Even though it was very thin and recognized all of my inputs just fine, it felt like a speed bump for my fingers every time they brushed over the edge. And there was a noticeable outline on the front of my black phone. I couldn’t take it anymore and removed it after several days.

That did leave my screen completely unprotected, something certainly worth noting.

Baby Soft

I really like the feel of this case. It’s soft to the touch and grippy, but not overly so. Now that I think of it, it sort of feels like a firm banana peel. Think of that level of waxiness. It slides easily into my pockets and doesn’t pick up dirt, lint or hand oils.

Like a second skin that feels like actual skin.

The precision port, speaker and button cutouts on the sides of the case are spot-on. The case really is like a very thin second coating on the phone. And because of the aramid weave, it’s very scratch-resistant and the color won’t fade.

Oddly enough, the main reason anyone puts a case on their phone — protecting it from a drop — is the one thing I thankfully didn’t get to test. I imagine that it would absorb some impact, but not much, and definitely wouldn’t protect the screen. If you’re prone to dropping your devices, I’d have to suggest a much thicker case.

Hello, handsome.

But there are plenty of us who want to let their thin phones run naked and free. I honestly don’t like phone cases. But since Apple insists on making their phones difficult to hold on to, they sort of forced my hand.

Fortunately, Pitaka has you covered. If you want protection, added grip, and don’t want to make your phone feel like a rubber brick, put the power of aramid to work for you!

The Aramid iPhone 7+ Case is available now from Pitaka in a variety of colors for $49.99. It is also available in additional sizes for the iPhone 6, 6+ and 7 as well as the Galaxy S7 Edge, S8 and S8 plus phones.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Pitaka. Visit their site for more information and Amazon to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: iPhone Case

Pitaka Aramid iPhone 7+ Case review originally appeared on on May 17, 2017 at 10:32 am.

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