Pad & Quill's Bella Fino wallet case for iPhone 6 Plus
Yesterday I reviewed the Twelve South BookBook for iPhone 6 Plus and loved it; today, we're going to take a look at how another case manufacturer handles the big iPhone with leather. That manufacturer is Pad & Quill, and the case is the Bella Fino for iPhone 6 Plus (US$74.99). In keeping with the spirit of holiday giving, we're also giving this case away, so be sure to fill out the entry form at the bottom of the review. If you'd like 10 percent off of any order from Pad & Quill, be sure to enter the discount code ML44 when checking out.
Specifications
Dimensions: 6.5 x 3.5 x 0.55 inches (165 x 89 x 14 mm)
Weight: 2.2 ounces (62.4 grams)
Materials: Leather (Galloper Black, Whiskey, Dark Chocolate), translucent plastic for ID card pocket, 3M adhesive sticker
Design
If you're not familiar with Pad & Quill's work from our past reviews, then you're missing a lot - the company creates cases, bags, and briefcases, all made primarily from top-quality natural materials like leather and Baltic birch. The Bella Fino takes advantage of the new, thinner design of the iPhone 6 Plus by doing away with the wood frame of the Luxury Book for iPhone 6 Plus ($99.99), which actually doesn't shave any thickness off of the case, but does save 1.8 ounces of weight.
As with all of Pad & Quill's products, the workmanship is top-notch. The leather is gorgeous, with perfect strong stitching inside and out. Like the Twelve South case yesterday, the Bella Fino features four credit card slots, an ID slot, and a large pocket for paper money or receipts.
The big difference is in how the iPhone 6 Plus is held in place; Pad & Quill worked with another Minnesota-based company by the name of 3M to create a two-part adhesive patch that sticks to the back of your iPhone, yet can be removed without leaving any residue.
A video posted by Pad & Quill (@padandquill) on Dec 12, 2014 at 2:56pm PST
Unlike the Twelve South BookBook, the Bella Fino cannot be used as a stand for your iPhone 6 Plus. Things that Bella Fino has that the BookBook doesn't? A nice finish that isn't pre-distressed, so if you like beautiful leather you're going to prefer this wallet case. Oh, and there are six different combinations of exterior and interor colors.
Functionality
The Bella Fino case is incredibly fast to install. Simply remove the paper cover off of the adhesive patch, line up your iPhone 6 Plus, and then press it firmly onto the patch. It sticks to the patch until you want to remove the case, at which time you just need to give your phone a firm tug to release it.
If that patch loses its stickiness at some point, you can purchase extra adhesive from Pad & Quill for $5.99. My experience with this material is that it really sticks to the phone very well, unless you remove your iPhone frequently or if the adhesive patch gets dirty.
In case you're worried about how your iPhone will handle a drop while wearing the Bella Fino, it's pretty well protected all around the exterior with a bit of extra leather. The only place that's "naked" is the upper right corner, which has a cutaway for the iPhone camera and flash.
Conclusion
While Twelve South's BookBook is novel in appearance (no pun intended), Pad & Quill's Bella Fino is simply elegant - pure class in an iPhone 6 Plus wallet case. It's something you'd be proud to take out of the jacket pocket of your fine tailored suit, yet classic enough to look good when you pull it out of your jeans pocket. My only concern is the slight lack of protection for the camera portion of the iPhone 6 Plus if the case and phone are dropped. If you love the look of the Bella Fino but have that same concern, spend the extra $20 and pre-order the Luxury Book for iPhone 6 Plus -- and don't forget the 10 percent discount.
Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
Giveaway
Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like opening a Pad & Quill Bella Fino for iPhone 6 Plus on Christmas morning! We think we can get this to the winner in time for the holiday, so if you're in the mood to get or give a Bella Fino, here are the rules for the giveaway:
Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button.
The entry must be made before December 21, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time.
You may enter only once.
One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Pad & Quill Bella Fino for iPhone 6 Plus valued at $74.99.
