Pad & Quill has always made fantastic cases and holders for Apple’s expensive handheld devices. So we couldn’t wait to get our hands on the latest generation of wallet cases for Apple’s new edge-to-edge iPhone X.
Once again, Pad & Quill is bringing its usual attention to detail and focused craftsmanship in combination with premium materials on the Bella Fino iPhone X Wallet Case. I have had Pad & Quill’s most affordable wallet-style cover wrapped around my iPhone X for over a week and it’s now time to bring the experience to you.
First things first, the materials and build quality. As expected, the full grain American leather and “marine grade” UV resistant nylon stitching have returned with the latest generation Bella Fino. We also get some nice embossed logos on the backside and spine of the exterior, while keeping the frontside completely clean and minimal.
Too many case manufacturers plaster the outside of these things with bright, bold logos these days, which for me just simply doesn’t cut it. Pad & Quill strikes a nice balance by applying its branding in a very tasteful way, while still allowing users to claim a sort-of aesthetic ownership over their case.
After having this thing in my hands for daily use for a while now, I can safely say it is about as nice as Pad & Quill claims it is. Completely soft to the touch, yet durable and robust enough to feel like you’ve got an actual piece of leather in your hands.
I can already see some ripples and light scratching developing on the exterior of the review unit, just as the P&Q folks said it would. The company claims it is “designed to age with a rich patina”, which is certainly the case and has added to the charm/overall appeal of the Bella Fino for me.
On the inside we are greeted with 5 credit card-style slots as well as a larger cash pocket. P&Q claims it should hold 5 to 7 cards along with some cash, but that might be pushing it a little in terms of keeping the form factor as slim as possible during practical use. For me it’s more like 4 cards and a few bills. Needless to say, the colored interior is solid leather and looks/feels just as great as the outside.
As for actually installing your expensive iPhone X into the Bella Fino, Pad & Quill has done about as good a job here as I could ask for. First of all, it has worked directly with Minnesota based 3M to develop a “clean release” adhesive designed specifically for the glass shell on iPhone X. It is your basic peel and stick situation.
Personally, I was hesitant to stick my Phone X on this thing, but I did it anyway. Don’t worry, everything works as you would hope. iPhone X sticks on there just fine and, as mildly painful as it was it peeled right off with no issues, without leaving behind any marks on the phone.
For those of you like me that don’t want to apply the iPhone X directly on the 3M adhesive, P&Q is throwing in a free oil rubbed snap-in case to sit your phone in first. Naturally, I chose to go with this option in the end, and while it does add a tiny bit of heft to the package overall, it was worth the peace of mind for me. It is certainly a nice touch for the company to toss that in for nothing with every Bella Fino purchase.
And for those wondering, it is fully compatible with wireless charging.
It’s hard to find a downside with the Pad & Quill Bella Fino case. The $90 price tag might scare some away, but it’s hard to imagine a leather case like this going for much less. As someone who has always preferred the slimmest possible shell case, like Apple’s leather option, I would prefer the entire thing felt a little thinner in my hand. But again, this is a wallet case and it’s about as thin as any I have tried with this kind of storage.
The Bella Fino iPhone X Wallet Case goes for $89.99 shipped, but you can use code PQ16 to knock it down to $80.95. It comes in three colorways with various interior options.
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