Customize a Vaja luxury case for your iPhone X

The Vaja cases I’ve had the luck to use are luxurious cases made of beautiful leather.  They are usually customizable with your color of choice and often with your choice of leather.  This iPhone X case allows you to choose from floater leather, with mixed tanning method resulting in a strong, grainy leather in a variety of bright colors; or bridge leather, with vegetable tanning method resulting in a delicate, soft-touch leather in earthy tones.  Both choices include a premium leather lining.  The phone is held in a hard, polycarbonate shell that is Qi charging-compatible.  The front cover has four RFID-shielded card slots and an extra compartment for folded currency.  Sterling silver (925) accents along the sides of the case add a beautiful accent;  choose from the simple Argento band, crosshatched Neo design, or the sinuous Barhein design.  Prices start at $289.00, and hand-crafting the case takes 25 days.  The Customizable Silver Wallet iPhone X Leather Case is available at Vaja.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

Customize a Vaja luxury case for your iPhone X originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 28, 2017 at 10:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Burkley Magnetic Detachable Leather Wallet iPhone X case review

Last year I reviewed several Burkley iPhone 7 cases, one classic case, and one minimalistic wallet. Both very well made and designed to not only protect your smartphone but accentuate it in nicely done Turkish leather. With the release of the iPhone X, Burkley has recently introduced a suite of cases meant to protect Apple’s latest & greatest flagship. For this review, they sent their magnetic detachable leather wallet case for us to check out. 

The Burkley magnetic wallet combines 2-in-1 functionality into a single case. A book-style leather wallet and a detachable snap-on case that can be used independently or in combination.

The case is constructed of an impact resistant polycarbonate infrastructure with a piece of well-finished leather inlaid into the back of the case. The smooth rubber finish and natural Turkish leather skin inside the case protects the back of the handset against scratches and smudges.

The case is nicely fitted for the iPhone X, having a very tight fit with zero gaps along the curved edge where the plastic meets the stainless steel sides.

My only gripe in craftsmanship is there is a small gap between the inlayed back leather and the case itself. This space goes around much of the leather. Even though it is a small thing, I envision that void eventually getting ick/dust/crumbs trapped in the gap.

The snap-on case magnetically connects to the leather wallet. As I mentioned above, the wallet has a book-style orientation that is held closed by a magnet flap.

The wallet can hold identification, credit cards, bills, etc. Once broken in, the wallet can hold 6 or so cards and a fair amount of money. I hate to say it, but a majority of the time I need to carry more junk/happiness than this wallet has a capacity for. But my wife was VERY interested in its functionality and form factor. So, if/when she inherits my X next year (when I upgrade to the X+) this case maybe a serious contender as her case.

This case clicks onto the smartphone, covering and protecting nearly all of the iPhone’s sides and back. There are push-throughs for all the buttons and a cutout that allows access to the iPhone’s mute switch. The buttons themselves are easily pressed when desired and have a good tactile feel to them.

The case covers the entire top of the iPhone.

The right side has a single push-thru for the Siri/Apple Pay/power button.

The base of the case has cutouts for the lightning connector and speaker holes.

The Burkley case perfectly wraps around all sides of the X but does not extend above the screen. Which I actually prefer in a case so your thumb and fingers can flow/swipe on & off the screen without bumping into any edging. The case works well with a screen protector, as seen installed in this pic.

While the case itself doesn’t add much bulk or weight to the iPhone, once you add the wallet full of cards and money the combo does get pretty thick. That said, I can see this wholistic single solution working for many folks.

The case feels great on the iPhone, adding grippability and protection without adding much weight or bulk to the sleek and slim device. The leather on the back and rubber sides is a great combination of look, feel, and form while adding a decent amount of protection.

Even the wallet and case combo has a nice feel. It’s combined form factor isn’t too unwieldy and would easily fit in a coat pocket or purse.

The Burkley magnetic detachable leather wallet case also adds a good deal of operational functionality to the iPhone. Not only does it enable you to carry credit cards and money, but allows you to use magnetic mounts and the wallet acts as a stand for watching media content.

The iPhone X’s camera bump is slightly recessed providing greater protection.

In addition to Distressed Coffee, the Magnetic Detachable Leather Wallet Case For Apple iPhone X is also available in: Burnished Tan, Pebble Black, Antique Golden Brown, Distressed Antique Camel and Saffiano Navy Blue.

Overall, I like the Burkley’s detachable/magnetic leather case and wallet combo. The pair adds both protection and functionality to the iPhone X. Its detachability and magnetic interface make it extremely versatile as well. The rubber and leather case gives excellent grip-ability to the very slick iPhone. A solid choice for consideration if you’re looking for this kind of wallet/case combo.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Burkley. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $69
Manufacturer: Burkley Cases
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • iPhone X
Pros:
  • Excellent material quality
  • Nice functionality/combo case
  • Detachable
  • Well fitted for iPhone X
  • Can carry many credit cards/ID and bills
  • Can transform into iPhone stand
Cons:
  • Back leather in case should be more precisely fitted for inset.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Burkley Magnetic Detachable Leather Wallet iPhone X case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 27, 2017 at 4:51 pm.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

The perfect iPad cover for Harry Potter fans

Die-hard Harry Potter fans will be thrilled to receive this iPad cover this gifting season.  The “Advanced Potion Making” cover makes your iPad look like a hardcover book.  The design is permanently printed on PU leather.  Inside an attached silicone case cradles the iPad, and a magnetic tab holds the cover closed.  Also inside are ridges that serve as stops to hold the tablet at various angles for horizontal viewing.  All buttons, cameras, and controls are left uncovered for easy use of the iPad.  This Potter cover is available in sizes to fit most every iPad, excluding the original one.  Prices range from $64.00 for the iPad mini sizes to $74.00 for the 9.7″ and the 12.9″ sizes.  I just received the one I ordered for someone for Christmas, and it looks great!  I may need the “Alice in Wonderland” version for myself.  The “Advanced Potion Making” iPad cover is available from chicklitdesigns on Etsy.  Also check out her bookcover-style cases for phones (iPhone and Android models) and Apple Watch bands while you’re there.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

The perfect iPad cover for Harry Potter fans originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 27, 2017 at 10:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Miniturtle iPhone Case review

Does a phone case have to be expensive to be good? Miniturtle makes inexpensive, full-featured phone cases that also allow you to add some sharp-looking graphics (or bring your own) to match your style. I’ve got one of their iPhone cases in my hands for a close-up review. Let’s see how good it is!

The Shopping Experience

A visit to the Miniturtle web site presents a dizzying variety of options, with thousands of combinations to choose from. I counted a dozen different available case styles for just about every phone model you could think of. You can then choose from hundreds of images to customize the backplate, or upload your own. Fortunately, you can filter your choices by phone model. After some browsing through the 80+ options, I settled on the iPhone 6 Strike Impact Double Layered Kickstand Case in the Orange Flower Skull pattern for the Halloween season.

  

The case arrives with an adhesive screen protector, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and a basic stylus. It’s a pleasant surprise for an item that retails for $9.99, and makes for a nice little package.

Design and Construction

The Miniturtle iPhone 6 Strike Impact Double Layered Kickstand Case is a two-part system. The outer casing is made from a polycarbonate to resist impact, with a silicone gel inner casing to absorb shocks. The external shell is cut to allow for extra silicone padding on the corners. There’s also a “kickstand” built into the outer shell which includes a plastic crossbar that slides out on rails to keep the stand in place when opened. The kickstand snaps securely in place when not in use.

Some cheaper phone cases just aren’t cut right, and you end up wrestling with the case to gain access to all of your ports and controls. I’m happy to report that Miniturtle gets everything right here. The silicone pads for the volume and right-hand control buttons are perfectly placed. Ports for the mute rocker, audio jack, power port, and speaker are cut with generous spacing so that they don’t interfere with operation. It’s all good.

The customized graphic is printed with bold colors, and adds a bit of style to the case. It runs across the full back of the outer casing including the kickstand tab. It looks to me like it’s either imprinted in the plastic or coated with an additional protective layer because I’m having a hard time putting a scratch on it. It’s a nice finishing touch.

Overall the Miniturtle Phone Case is a surprisingly nice build. It’s a tight & precise fit, with no gaps or waggle when assembled. And for a $10 case, it looks really good.

In Use

When it comes to basic phone cases, you really have two types: those that protect your device from minor scratches and bumps, and those that can take a serious impact. I’d put the Miniturtle Strike Impact Double Layered Kickstand Case in the latter category.

The last case I tested fell apart after a few months of routine use and occasional drops or bumps. With the reinforced silicone on all the corners wrapped by the polycarbonate shell, this case feels ready to take some punishment. I also like the additional shock resistance that the case provides. It does add some additional bulk to your phone, but the confidence that you won’t crash your device with an accidental drop on the sidewalk is worth it.

The Miniturtle Phone case also works great in normal operation. I mentioned the easy access to the controls and ports above. It also feels great in your hand, with nice grip provided by the extra silicone. The kickstand that works in both vertical and horizontal orientation is a nice bonus.

There are only two areas that I would call out as potential problems. The kickstand assembly appears to be a bit fragile, and I could See that plastic crossbar as a potential fail point. The second issue is just a nitpick for me about silicone cases: they are a magnet for dust and lint. It does clean up well, however. At this price point, neither of these are deal breakers for me.

Conclusion

Overall, I think the Miniturtle Phone Case is a bargain. My case was just $9.99, and I couldn’t find a case on the site that was more than $15. You could buy one for every holiday at that price. It’s an excellent build that offers comparable (or better) protection than more expensive cases I have bought in the past. Check them out at Miniturtle’s web site.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Miniturtle. For more information, visit their site.

 

Product Information

Price: $9.99
Manufacturer: Miniturtle
Pros:
  • Great quality at a bargain price
  • Good impact protection
  • Hundreds of bright, colorful graphics to choose from… or bring your own
Cons:
  • Kickstand may not hold up to heavy abuse
  • Silicone gel pad picks up lint and dust

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Miniturtle iPhone Case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 11, 2017 at 10:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Dress your new iPhone X in blue jeans with this unique case

Here’s something you don’t see every day. An iPhone case made out of blue jeans. Yes, you read that right I said blue jeans. The ‘Solid Denim’ iPhone case designed by the small UK company Mosevic, is made out of layers of denim that is infused with a carefully selected resin resulting in a composite material that is durable, shock absorbing and flexible, perfect for building high quality, striking and tactile iPhone cases. Another unique thing about this case is that it’s made using denim from recycled jeans. Mosevic takes discarded and damaged jeans and reclaims the denim fabric. Each handmade case is built from layers of different denim, making every single case unique. Add some soft plastic buttons to control power and volume and you have a pretty cool and definitely unique iPhone case. You can pre-order the case right now on Mosevic’s website for $52.50. It will be available for the iPhone X, 8, 8 Plus, 7 and 7 Plus models and will start shipping the week of November 27th. Just in time for the Holidays.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

Dress your new iPhone X in blue jeans with this unique case originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 10, 2017 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.