Apple launched both its new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus today, and along with the new smartphones it also debuted new cases for each. The follow the simple precedent Apple set out when it created the iPhone 5s leather cases: simple, solid color designs that are thin and have no moving parts, yet offer a degree of additional protection to the fit and finish of your devices.
The new cases for both iPhone models come in either leather or silicone, with multiple color options for either material. The silicone cases are $35 and $39 respectively for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, while the leather variety will set you back either $45 or $49 depending on if you have the smaller or larger device.
I tested out both varieties, on both devices, and found that they do the job of protecting the devices against bumps and scratches, while adding relatively little weight or added thickness. The accessories also serve another purpose: providing a more grippy surface to hold onto when you’re using the phones, which is appreciated given how smooth and rounded the new hardware designs are.
Apple’s choices in terms of colors are also nice, and should provide an option for most tastes. The Mac maker hasn’t always had the best luck in creating accessories and add-on kit for its own gadgets, but in the case of these cases and those for the iPhone 5s that preceded it, they’re now just about the only option I’ll look at in this category (though I generally prefer to go caseless). Judging by the example of my iPhone 5s cases in red and leather, they’ll also age well with continued use.
As I mention in my hardware reviews, the industrial design work on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is excellent, so shielding that away even in the interest of preserving it seems like a wrong turn to me, but if you insist, Apple’s options are solid, though the $5 price hike for the 6 Plus options does seem a bit steep of an ask.
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