Review: Pad & Quill iPhone 12 Cases – Luxury in Your Hands

The iPhone 12 was just released, and if you’re like everyone else, you pre-ordered it, got in line for it, and are obsessed with it. Now that you have your precious phone in your hands, what’s the next step? Extend your excitement over your shiny new mobile phone by decking it out in an equally beautiful phone case.

There are plenty of choices out there, from clear plastic ones to embellished ones that will make people stop and stare. But when it comes to dressing your brand-new iPhone 12, you need to choose a phone case that adds to its aesthetic. The iPhone alone is a work of art — don’t hide its beauty underneath a cheap, flimsy, one-dollar phone case.

Today, we’re going to look at one phone case that stands out for its simplistic beauty: the Pad & Quill iPhone 12 Case.

Pad & Quill has released two styles of phone cases for the iPhone 12 series, the Bella Fino iPhone 12 Wallet Case (available for the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and iPhone 12 Mini) and the Luxury Pocket Book iPhone 12 Wallet Case (available for the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max).

Is the Price Right?

Prices for the Bella Fino iPhone 12 Wallet Case are $59.95 for the iPhone 12 Mini, $69.95 for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, and $79.95 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Meanwhile, all of the Luxury Book iPhone 12 Wallet Cases are priced at $99.95 for all models.

In comparison to Apple’s iPhone 12 cases which cost between $49.95 (excluding the smart battery cases), the Pad & Quill iPhone cases don’t jump too far into “way-too-expensive” territory. Considering that the Pad & Quill iPhone Cases are made of luxurious, full-grain leather, it’s definitely worth the price.

Sure, there are other leather phone cases for the iPhone 12 such as ones from Mujjo and Casetify, but very rarely can you find a well-crafted leather wallet case like the ones by Pad & Quill. Most of the leather iPhone 12 cases on the market are slim cases that have no card slot or just one card slot that sticks out at the back.

Bella Fino iPhone 12 Wallet Cases
Dimensions: 6.7 in x 3.5 in x 0.55 in
Price: $79.94

If you’ve never heard of Pad & Quill, then you’re missing out. The company is known for its standard of craftsmanship, creating beautiful bags, cases, and other products using top-quality leathers. As with all of their products, the Pad & Quill iPhone 12 Wallet Case offers superb workmanship with its smooth leather and durable stitching inside out.

The Pad & Quill case offers a nice balance between tastefulness and branding. Unlike other case manufacturers that plaster the entire phone case with logos, the Bella Fino features a completely clean frontside and a subtly embossed backside. The iPhone 12 case is made of full-grain American leather and marine-grade, UV-resistant nylon stitching.

The Bella Fino offers four credit card slots for the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 versions, three credit card slots for the iPhone 12 Mini version, and five credit card slots for the iPhone 12 Pro Max version. All of the cases have a large pocket for bills, receipts, and other flat items.

The Bella Fino iPhone 12 cases come in three color combinations: chocolate & deep sea blue, galloper black & slate gray, and whiskey & deep sea blue. If you’re thinking, “Those colors are boring!” we’re here to tell you that the Bella Fino cases come with colorful straps that not only lock your phone in place but encourage users to have a bit of fun. You can choose from a variety of custom strap colors, like blue, orange, yellow, and brown.

Luxury Pocket Book iPhone 12 Wallet Cases
Dimensions: 6.7 in x 3.5 in x 0.55 in
Price: $99.95

On the slightly more expensive side is the Pad & Quill Luxury Book iPhone 12 Wallet Case. At first glance, the Luxury Pocket Book doesn’t look that different from the Bella Fino — but wait until you feel it.

The major difference between the two lies in the real baltic birch wood used in the Luxury Pocket Book phone case. This makes the Pad & Quill Luxury Book feel like you’re holding an actual pocketbook in your hands. The wood is cut into 1/100th of an inch, mimicking actual pages of a book, so that when you close the phone case, your iPhone 12 is completely concealed. If you leave this next to an actual book, you’ll probably fool a lot of people.

Undeniably, the Luxury Pocket Book is one of the finest phone cases we’ve ever used. The company excels in its attention to detail, especially with the “pages” and its marine-grade, UV-resistant nylon stitching. Examining it up close, its workmanship can be compared to high-end bags. It belongs among luxury items, staying true to its name.

The Luxury Pocket Book can hold up to seven cards with its four spacious card slots and a larger pocket for paper money. You can choose from three leather colors: chocolate & deep sea blue, galloper black & slate gray, and whiskey & deep sea blue. Unlike the Bella Fino, which offers several strap options, the Luxury Pocket Book shows off an elegant Moleskine-style strap.

Using the Pad & Quill iPhone 12 Phone Case

We’ve been using the Bella Fino and Luxury Pocket Book iPhone 12 case for a week now, and we can say that it definitely feels luxurious. It’s soft to the touch, but still offers the right amount of protection thanks to its ultra-protective matt tray with microfiber inlay. If you’re worried that the cases won’t keep your device safe from bumps and falls, the phone case is completely covered except for the ports and cameras.

Which brings us to our only concern: camera protection. Pad & Quill managed to maintain a sleek backside but seems to have forgotten to add protection to the camera portion of the Bella Fino. While we’re confident that its leather body can protect the phone from falls, one area — the camera — is dangerously exposed.

We did notice that the case started to show fine scratches on the exterior, but this shouldn’t be a problem. In fact, the imperfections add to its rustic aesthetic. Over time, this phone case will “age beautifully with a rich patina.”

Conclusion

Pad & Quill’s leather phone cases for the iPhone 12 are absolute class. They’re the kind of cases that will make you want to take your phone out every chance you get. If you’re looking for a phone case that feels and looks elegant even after years, the Pad & Quill iPhone 12 cases are a great investment. If you have an extra $20+ to spend, we recommend going for the Luxury Pocket Book case, as it offers more protection for the camera, and just feels more luxe overall.