In the market for a smartphone case that offers reasonable protection and doesn’t bulk up your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus?
Look no further than the SurfacePad, a stylish, ultra-slim protection for your precious pocket computer by Twelve South, the premium maker of Apple-exclusive accessories.
Unveiled in November 2014 , the SurfacePad is a leather jacket that doesn’t conceal key design elements of Apple’s gorgeous new iPhones. It’s going to appeal to fashion conscious types like yours truly who like their iPhones naked.
But how does the SurfacePad hold up in everyday life and, more crucially, over longer periods of use? Having used it as an exclusive case for my iPhone 6 Plus for the past four months, here’s what I was able to gather from my hands-on experience with the product.
Anyone who has ever owned a Twelve South product is keenly aware that this Charleston, South Carolina headquartered accessory maker designs its product packaging with the utmost care, like Apple. The SurfacePad landed on my desk inside a compact box just a little bigger and a hair heavier than the case itself.
The box flips open and closes neatly like a mini-booklet, thanks to the magnet embedded inside. In addition to the SurfacePad itself, contents of the packaging includes a thank-you note, a two-page user guide and some cool Twelve South stickers.
Opening the box immediately greets you with a lifestyle shot of a male model carrying his SurfacePad and a message congratulating you on not buying an iPhone case. Yup, you read that right.
“Enjoy the thinnest of SurfacePad,†reads the message. “Inhale the aroma of its Napa leather. Watch how easy it slips in and out of your pocket. Be sure to tell everyone who asks where you got your case: It’s not a case. It’s a SurfacePad.â€
Admittedly, small touches like this do nothing to improve actual functionality of a product. Having said that, Twelve South should be commended for exhibiting attention to detail Apple users have long grown accustomed to, consistently.
So many people throw away packaging in the dust bin right after unwrapping the product, either out of ignorance, or because the box itself is dull and ugly or maybe people just don’t think design should extend to packaging.
Be that as it may, I’ve decided to keep mine.
The SurfacePad is a typical, nicely designed Twelve South product which uses premium materials without sacrificing functionality. The stitching around the edges gives it a stylish appearance.
The right, top and bottom edges of the device are exposed so you get direct access to the power/sleep button, headphone jack and Lightning connector. Moreover, the recesses in the SurfacePad’s spine let you hit the volume buttons and the silent switch without opening the case.
Soft napa leather it’s made from on the outside doesn’t just feel great in your hand, it smells good, too! The leather jacket offers reasonable protection for both the iPhone’s front and back side from dangers like elements, dust, scratches and dings occurring from daily use.
While the napa leather shields the iPhone’s screen from the outside, the soft microfiber lines protect it from the inside. The case adds only two millimeters of bulk to your device and weighs in at just 29 grams (1.02 ounces) for the iPhone 6 edition, or 42 grams (1.48 ounces) for its bigger 5.5-inch brother.
The SurfacePad feels like anything but a traditional case, at least in terms of weight and bulk. As I said before, I’m really not a phone case person and as such am hard to please. But if there’s one thing that immediately won me over to the SurfacePad, it’s its light design. Oh, and that reinforced stitching around the perimeter isn’t just for good looks, but long-term durability as well.
In terms of build quality, I shall only say that I’ve been carrying my iPhone in my SurfacePad at all times, for four months. We’ve been at the beaches, in the countryside, biking, hiking, working out, socializing and partying and elsewhere and it’s never failed me.
As someone who’s fashion conscious (but not a fashionista), I’m pleased that my SurfacePad has even gotten people interested in me â€" everyone and their brother were inquiring me about that stylish jacket my iPhone was wearing.
Installing the SurfacPad onto your iPhone is a piece of cake.
A protective sheet is covering the SurfacePad’s back while it’s not in use, so best thing you keep it in a safe place. The protective sheet goes off easily, revealing a smooth surface which uses SurfaceGrip technology. It’s basically a bunch of microscopic suction pads referred to as a“a modern adhesive†in Twelve South’s parlance.
Rather than use adhesive strips, micro-suction technology allows for a non-residue installation which won’t damage your device and can be reapplied many times. It also lets the SurfacePad stay adhered steadfastly to the back of your iPhone. And don’t worry, it won’t accidentally come off in daily use or lose adhesion when dirtied.
Upon first installation, leave the SurfacePad attached to your iPhone for an hour or so. And be patient when taking it off: grab one corner and gently start unapplying it before making your way slowly to the remaining corners. Here’s what the case looks like after spending four months adhered to the back of my iPhone 6 Plus.
As you can see, it’s in nearly pristine condition.
Again, SurfaceGrip technology works like magic: you can lift the case by its front flap and it’ll easily hold the iPhone 6’s weight. On first use, the SurfacePad’s cover may initially pop up. This is normal and temporary. The cover will “break in†within a week or so of use to lay flat.
You can accelerate this process by placing SurfacePad face down, with the iPhone’s camera facing up, until the leather softens into its new position.
The case easily turns into a hands-free display stand.
Simply flex its back to put your iPhone into display mode, in which the handset is propped up in landscape orientation at an enjoyable (and adjustable) reading angle.
Acting as a display stand, the SurfacePad is great for watching movies, FaceTime calling and even taking group photos. If there were any doubts about the usability of cases that double as display stands, Apple’s larger-screened iPhones have dispelled them in one fell swoop.
I’m liking the fact that the inside front cover has two handy slots for IDs, plastic cards, tickets, cash and some such. so if you’re not a fan of Apple Pay, you can keep your credit cards and a few dollar bills in the SurfacePad when going out and about to do some light shopping, drink a pint of beer with friends and what not.
This is especially practical for folks who don’t use Apple Pay, or it’s not supported in their area (or their bank isn’t participating yet). Keeping your bank card/cash in your SurfacePad is one less thing to carry in your pocket/wallet.
When a phone call comes in, you’ll want to flip the SurfacePad’s front cover all the way around the back cover, as seen below. Which brings me to the biggest gripe I have with the accessory: in this position, the front cover is inadvertently hiding the iPhone’s noise-cancellation microphone, which could degrade your call quality.
It took me awhile to realize that people couldn’t hear me well or were complaining about degraded sound quality because I was holding the SurfacePad wrong, literally. Just don’t flip the front cover around the back during phone calls and you’ll be fine.
If making phone calls the SurfacePad’s front cover semi-open feels awkward, use your Apple headphones like I do.
The vast majority of ultra-slim cases suffer from the same problem, which in and of itself stems from Apple’s placement of the noise-cancellation microphone next to the iSight camera on the back of the device.
I’m certainly glad Twelve South hasn’t replicated the SurfacePad’s back camera cutout on the front as that would have looked just awful. The other annoyance has to do more with my ignorance than it does with Twelve South. A while ago, I accidentally spilt a few drops of Coke on the SurfacePad’s front cover and what did I do?
Yes, I rushed to wipe the cover with a piece of damp cloth.
I was stupid enough to forget that wiping liquid stains with damp cloth would result in discoloration of the leather. You can’t see it on the photos as it’s barely noticeable, but I can spot it under an angle and when exposing the SurfacePad to direct sunlight.
Everyone should think about protecting their pricey devices.
See, Apple’s support forums are flooded [1] with iPhone 6 owners complaining of screen scuffs and nicks occurring from normal daily use. This is a problem we didn’t have with prior iPhones so what’s going on here?
It’s simple, by removing the bezel around the iPhone 6’s display to give it a nice rounded appearance Apple’s also made the screen more prone to scratching because the glass is no longer protected by the metal lip of the bezel.
That’s why slipping an iPhone 6 in and out of your pockets, purses and backpacks can and will lead to a scratched and scuffed screen, especially around its rounded, unprotected edges. Therefore, smart iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus owners buy a case and I’m certainly liking how comfortable the SurfacePad’s leather feels in my hand.
My handset now stays secure in my hand, which cannot be said for hard plastic cases or the slippery aluminum material the iPhone 6’s chassis is made from.
These two drawbacks are inconvenient but not deal breakers.
Matter of fact, I’m very comfortable recommending the SurfacePad to my friends and acquaintances in search of a stylish protection for their pricey pocket computer.
Even if you already have a ruggedized case that provides extra protection, you may nevertheless consider adding the SurfacePad to your mobile toolkit for times when both protection and good looks are important.
Pros
- Great looking â€" quite easily the best-looking case for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus I’ve seen so far
- Elegant â€" doesn’t conceal the iPhone 6’s gorgeous design, accentuates its rounded edges, it’s light and doesn’t add bulk to your device.
- Convenient â€" doubles as a hands-free display stand and a mini-wallet for cash and plastic
Cons
- Not water proof â€" don’t clean dirty spots with damp cloth as the color may come off the leather
- May interfere with noise-cancelation â€" not really a design flaw per se, but flipping the front cover around to the back during phone calls will cover the noise-canceling microphone
Different people have different needs.
If you’ve been on the lookout for a case that offers complete protection for your iPhone from screen breakage, nicks, falls and drops, trust me when I say you’re better off picking up a rigid case from the likes of Incipio and others.
What this minimal everyday cover does is guard your device from surface scratches and scrapes occurring from keys in your pocket, nail files, rough surfaces, concrete park benches and so forth.
If you’re anything like me, you’re not a case person at all.
I still wholeheartedly recommend taking a look at the SurfacePad. In addition to adequately protecting both the iPhone 6’s screen and its back, it won’t degrade the handset’s design features like its shiny rounded edges and thin and light appearance.
The SurfacePad for iPhone 6 is available for both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, in your choice of black, white, red or camel finish.
The iPhone 6 version is a $40 value on the Twelve South webstore [2] . A bigger jacket for your iPhone 6 Plus will set you back an extra $10, running at fifty bucks a pop.
Prices include free shipping in the US.
Colorful SurfacePad jackets are also available for other iPhone models, Mac notebooks and for the iPad Air and iPad mini tablets.
How do you like the SurfacePad and which form of protection, if any, do you use to keep your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus in pristine condition?
Links
- ^ Apple’s support forums are flooded (discussions.apple.com)
- ^ Twelve South webstore (www.twelvesouth.com)
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